National budget for 12.27.07 editions

Wednesday

Dec 26, 2007 at 12:01 AMDec 26, 2007 at 7:07 PM

GateHouse News Service National Budget

For 12/27/07 editions

Here are the top national stories coming today from GateHouse News Service. Stories are available at http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/. Please submit stories below no later than 6 pm local time, unless you have breaking news that is changing significantly.

* PRIMARY DECISION MAKERS: Look at how Iowa and New Hampshire match up to America, in all kinds of demographics. And why Iowans take such pride in voting first. And why New Hampshire voters are ferociously independent. Use census data to compare Iowa and New Hampshire to Massachusetts, Illinois, New York, Missouri and Ohio. Talk to folks in Iowa and New Hampshire for their take on elections. FITZPATRICK
ART: pics of Iowa (by Rockford), New Hampshire (by Patriot Ledger) folks; video
WITH: numbers-based graphic, showing census comparisons (zoned for Illinois, Mass., NY, Missouri and Ohio)
BREAKOUT: What is a caucus?
RUN DATE: Before Jan. 3 (Iowa caucuses)
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/news/special_reports

* END OF YEAR BUDGET: (See below) You’ll find an end-of-year budget with links to stories such as the top weird stories, top movies, top music, highlights from American Idol, and more.

Lifestyles (Thursday is Home & Garden)

HOME HELP: Weekly rail, leads with how to deal with leaky toilets. Home & Garden
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/lifestyle/home_and_garden/x1059343514

GETAWAY: Land of the Water Horse -- exploring Scotland's Loch Ness region. http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/lifestyle/travel/x546802986

2008 PROGNOSTICATIONS: A look at what will happen in the entertainment world in 2008. IN / entertainment
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/entertainment/x469063352

GREAT COUPLES: How to make it work? Couples discuss keys to relationships. Rockford/ in / travel
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/lifestyle/x1059343043

PET PERSONALITIES: Pets often a reflection of their owners. Rockford / in / lifestyle
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/lifestyle/x2133871213

BOSTON-AREA MUSICIAN POPULAR IN UTICA: Ryan Montbleau lives just outside of Boston, but nothing says “home” to this traveling musician like Utica. “I don’t know, something is in the stars in Utica,” said the singer-songwriter. “I love that town.” He's been drawing hundreds of Utica fans to his shows at The Electric Company at 700 Varick St. He and his band, The Ryan Montbleau Band, likely will draw that size crowd once again during a brief stop there Saturday, Dec. 29. CASSAUNDRA BABER/Observer-Dispatch. W/photo.

Opinions

MAHONEY: On Huckabee campaign calling the manger to see who he’s supporting. http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/opinions/cartoons/x469063502

ROSE BOWL SPECIAL: LIVES FILLED WITH ROSES?
Package on Illinois' first appearance in the Rose Bowl in 1947 in lead-up to the present-day team’s appearance on New Year’s Day.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/sports/x2133870675

MAIN STORY: How Mr. Illini inspired the 1947 conference championship team of WWII veterans mixed with younger.

WITH: Vignettes on several players from the 1947 team, who provide personal insight into the meaning of the game, the return from World War II and a life full of memories.

MIXING BOWL: While the Illini heard questions about their recruiting tactics, coach
Ron Zook's mixed talent left behind from former coach Ron Turner's tenure and Zook's
classes filled with playmakers to build a winner as Illinois prepares to meet USC in
the Rose Bowl. SUPINIE. Champaign. Illinois sports and Big Ten. Moving this evening.

TURNER WATCHING: Sidebar. Former Illinois coach Ron Turner, who guided Illinois to
its only Big Ten title since 1990, is watching the Illini from afar. The Bears
offensive coordinator keeps up with his former team, and he takes pride in the
players he left behind. SUPINIE. Champaign. Illinois sports and Big Ten. Moving this
evening.

FANTASY FOOTBALL FINALE: Column from Paul Arco about the end of fantasy football season.ROCKFORD/Illinois Sports and Fantasy Football

KIRK WESSLER COLUMN: Talking to Dr. Dick Deller, a Bradley University engineering professor who was captain of the 1963 Rose Bowl team at the University of Illinois. WESSLER/PEORIA

News

AFTERXMAS RETURNS: Standing in line to return Christmas gifts is becoming a less frequent holiday tradition, according to retailers. As the popularity of gift cards rises, fewer shoppers are showing up the day after Christmas to exchange that ill-advised sweater, toaster oven or cheese log for what they really want. In fact, the National Retail Federation surveyed shoppers and found that 64.3 percent didn’t return anything last holiday season, up from 62.4 percent in 2005.

SECRET LOGS: The Bush White House isn't exactly renowned for its transparency. (After all, the vice president says he keeps a man-sized vault in his office to store 'workaday' business.) But the administration's fierce furtiveness recently came under fire from a federal judge, who ruled that White House visitor logs can't be squirreled away as private documents. PEORIA

INDIAN LAND DECISION STALLED: 2007 was supposed to be the year the federal government finally ruled on whether Oneida Indian Nation land could be put into U.S. trust -- a decision that has implications for Indian tribes elsewhere in New York state and the country. But the sheer complexity of the case has delayed resolution. JENNIFER FUSCO/Observer-Dispatch.
MOVING: 1 p.m. Wednesday.

Coming Tomorrow

RELIGION IN THE NEWS: Weekly religion rail.

MICHAEL MILLER: Ministries want to take prison ministry to the next level in central Illinois by encouraging churches to adopt former prisoners, literally meeting them at the gate when they're released and taking them in for 15 months, mentoring and sheltering them. PEORIA /in / religion
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/lifestyle/religion/x1295918945

End of year / New year:

THIS YEAR IN WEIRD: The top 10 unusual stories of the year. Art: logo. GHNS staff.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/news/x2128356118

BEST MUSIC of 2007: The best albums of the year. Art: Photo of all top 10 albums. Collin Quick.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/entertainment/music/x2031290345

A LOOK AHEAD AT THE BEST OF 2008: What will the new year sound like? Musicophiles weigh in on the best of what’s slated to come out next year. Art: Photos of DJs. Sarah Roberts.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/entertainment/music/x805325367

ISN’T IT GREAT? IT’S 2008: Let’s face it: It’s harder than ever to keep up with what’s in and what’s out in this ever-changing world. But you can stop worrying. Your guide to society, politics, fashion, the arts and life in general is here. Just be forewarned — these may all have changed by 180 degrees by the time you read this. Flip-flopping is in.?CHIANCA / ledger / in / entertainment
ART: lots of it!
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/entertainment/x1151530901